Nearly 50 new homes are to be built in Shoebury thanks to a development partnership involving Southend Council andPublic Sector Plc (PSP).

The former Hinguar School and Saxon Lodge sites will be regenerated to provide 13 converted apartments in the Old School building, 18 houses to the rear of the site and 15 new apartments in two blocks on the Saxon Lodge site, nine of which will be affordable homes in partnership with a housing association.

This will be the first joint development project between the council and PSP, which follows official completion of the legal arrangements with the chosen developer, Tern Developments Ltd.

The project gained planning permission in April 2015 and will see the careful preservation and conversion of the locally-listed Hinguar School building, which originally opened in 1886. Hinguar School was rebuilt on a new site as part of the Garrison redevelopment in 2012.

Hoardings are set to go up shortly and work will start on both sites in September 2015, with the first properties ready for occupation by autumn 2016.

Cllr Ron Woodley, Leader of the Council, said: “I am delighted that this redevelopment will shortly get underway following the official completion of contracts between the various partners. The project will really showcase the flexibility of the Council’s development partnership with PSP which has enabled the Council to protect the heritage of the old school whilst bringing forward a sensitive and attractive new development on both sites.

“We will see much needed new housing including a mix of houses and flats, including affordable housing and the sensitive conversion of the old Hinguar buildings will offer something really special to the local area.”